Earl Grey and citrus bundt cake
Earl Grey and citrus bundt cake
This delicately floral cake is just made to be enjoyed alongside a cup of Earl Grey tea. For a stronger flavour, use three tea bags. Leftovers can be wrapped up tightly and will keep well at room temperature for up to 3 days
Spencer Lengsfield
Spencer Lengsfield
Ingredients
- 2-3 Earl Grey tea bags
- 225g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra to grease
- 240g plain flour, plus extra to dust
- 250g golden caster sugar
- zest of 1 orange, plus the juice of ½
- zest of 1 lemon
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- ¾ tsp fine salt
- 1¼ tbsp vanilla bean paste
- 4 medium eggs
- 125ml milk, at room temperature
- 150g icing sugar, sifted
Step by step
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Steep the tea bags in 100ml of just-boiled water for 4-5 minutes, then remove and discard the bags. Allow to cool to room temperature.
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Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180°C, fan 160°C, gas 4. Grease a 2.4-litre non-stick bundt tin (about 25cm diameter and 10cm deep) with butter. Dust all over with a little flour, then tap out the excess. Put the sugar and citrus zests in a bowl. Rub together with your fingertips until the zest is evenly distributed.
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Sift the flour and baking powder into a medium bowl, then add the salt. To a large bowl, add the softened butter, citrus sugar, 1 tablespoon of vanilla and the cooled tea. Beat using an electric whisk until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each one is incorporated before adding the next. Pour in the milk and beat briefly to incorporate. Fold through the flour until combined.
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Pour the mixture into the prepared bundt tin, levelling the top. Tap the tin on your work surface a couple of times to remove any large air bubbles. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a skewer comes out mostly clean with just a few moist crumbs attached. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before inverting onto a cooling rack.
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Put the sifted icing sugar in a large bowl and whisk in the orange juice. Add more sugar for a thicker icing, or more orange juice for a more syrup-like drizzle. Spoon all over the bundt cake while it’s still warm. Leave to cool completely before slicing.
If the batter looks split, add an extra 1-2 tablespoons of flour and continue beating until it’s smooth again.